MANILA, Philippines – Cat welfare organizations on Monday reported the missing cats of Bonifacio Global City were not found in the relocation areas where they were supposed to have been brought.
Advocate groups CARA Welfare Philippines and Cats of BGC said they did not see the cats in a final round of searches conducted in the areas of Barangay Buting, Pasig City and Anastacio Street, in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City on February 22.
"No cats from BGC have been found in those areas," the groups said in a joint statement released Monday.
On February 19, Shangri-La management said 11 cats were "safely relocated" from around Shangri-La The Fort to the residential areas along Ilaya Street, Anastacio and Street between Jan. 13 and Feb. 13, 2018.
Ilaya and Anastacio streets are in Taguig City as hotel management claimed.
Cats of BGC, also earlier claimed that Shangri-La informed them that the cats were "placed at Buting and near Kalayaan Avenue."
Hotel management issued the statements after receiving inquiries on social media about the cats that had gone missing from the park beside the hotel.
A concerned citizen, Lucy M., also wrote an open letter accusing the hotel of hiring PestBusters Philippines "to deflect cats from their perimeter."
Despite the groups' findings, CARA Philippines and Cats of BGC coordinated and met with Shangri-La management to discuss initiatives on the steps to ensure the welfare and the safety of the cats.
Among the resolutions and initiatives discussed include the “commitment and continuing discussions on the part of Shangri-La in the actual care and monitoring of cats, veterinary needs, spay and neuter initiatives, responsible pet ownership promotion and awareness program including the nearby community to ensure collaborative effort to protect both remaining and incoming cats."
The parties also vowed to find homes for adoptable cats.
"Coming from these agreements, the public will be updated on the guidelines to be set regarding the management and feeding of the current and future Cats of BGC at the park," the joint statement read.
The animal advocates also wrote PestBusters a letter regarding the issue, which it has acknowledged receiving.
Meanwhile, CARA Welfare Philippines and Cats of BGC also said there are individuals misrepresenting their groups.
They clarified that they are "not involved with other groups or individuals and have not given any permission or authority for them to do so." They asked the public to "allow us to handle this collaboration for the welfare of the cats."